Grass-twine machine.



E. W. GOODRICK.

GRASSTWINE MACHINE.

APPLICATION nun MAY 5, 1910.

1,048,686, Patented Dec. 31, 1912.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

mum WRAP" O-I'WMNINOTON. D. C-

7K2 "In emfd E. W. GOODRIGK.

GRASS TWINE MACHINE.

APPLIUATION FILED MAY 5, 1910.

Patented Dec.31, 1912.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

1t verzfor':

E. W. GOODRIGK.

GRASS TWINE MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 5, 1910.

Patented Dec. 31, 1912.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

i y KW QLMJQJ UNITE .i l STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD W. GOODRICK, OF

OSHKOSH, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR TO WISCONSIN GRASS RUG AND CARPET COMPANY,OF FOND DU LAC, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION OF WISCONSIN.

GRASS-TWINE MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed May 5, 1.910.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, EDWARD W. GOODRICK,residing in Oshkosh, in the county of WVinnebago and State of Wisconsin,have invented new and useful Improvements in Grass-Twine Machines, ofwhich the following is a description, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, which are a part of this specification.

This invention relates to improvements in grass twine machines and hasfor its object to provide a simple and efficient machine especiallyadapted for making grass twine from marsh or other grass, and likematerial.

In the manufacture of grass twine from marsh grass'or other material itis the present necessary custom to sort the lengths of material anddiscard all material less than a certain length in order to form a twineof even diameter.

It is one of the objects of this invention to provide a grass twinemachine which will obviate the waste of material and form a grass twineof unvarying thickness throughout its length from grass or othermaterial of varying lengths and thicknesses without changing theadjustment of the machine.

A further object of the invention is to pro vide a grass twine machinewith a vertical, or substantially a vertical feed thereby simplifyingthe construction and providing a more compact construction than with theordinary horizontal feed type of machines.

A further object of the invention is to provide a grass twine machine inwhich the grass or other material holder is positioned directly abovethe thread or cord wrapping mechanism and the grass or other material isfed directly to the wrapping mechanism without the interposition ofintermediate mechanism.

A further object of the invention is to provide a grass twine machine inwhich both the material holder and the feeder are combined in one simplestructure which performs both functions in an efiicient manner.

With the above, and other objects in view, the invention consists of thegrass twine machine and its parts and combinations as set forth in theclaims, and all equivalents thereof.

In the accompanying drawings, in which the same reference charactersindicate the same parts in all of the views: Figure 1 is a shafts.

side view of the complete grass twine machine embodying theimprovements, parts shown in section; Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof;Fig. 3 is an end elevation thereof; Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail view ofthe combined material holder and feeder; and Fig. 5 is a detail view ofa modified form of combined holder and feeder.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 10 indicates the base portion and11 the main frame of the machine which may be of any suitable andconvenient construction neces sary to support the operating parts of themachine. The main frame preferably consists of two uprights 12 and 13upon which is mounted the main drive shaft 14 and the vibrator shaft 15rotatably connected together by means of an endless belt 16 extendingaround pulleys mounted on said The end of the vibrator shaft 1:)adjacent to the upright 12 is provided with a vibrator wheel 17 and uponwhich is supported the free end of a vibratory lever frame 18. The otherend of this lever is pivotally connected to the upright-13 of the mainframe and the free end which is supported on the vibrator wheel isprovided with an adjustable wearing block 19, preferably of wood, tocompensate for the wear of the contacting parts. An adjusting screw 20threaded to the upright 12 and engaging the lever frame 18 serves tolimit the engagement of'the lever frame with the vibrator wheel andcause more or less vibration of the lever frame. The lever frame isformed and adapted to support a combined grass holder and feederconsisting of a circular receptacle 21 having a conical bottom portion22 provided with a feed or discharge aperture 23 at its vertex ofsufficient size to permit several lengths of grass or other material topass through it at the same time. The bottom portion is provided at itslowest point with the aperture so that when the combined holder andfeeder is vibrated by the vibrator wheel the lengths of grass will workdown toward the aperture and pass thercthrough in a continuous stream.The side portions of the holder are provided with upstanding spring wireguards 24 which serve to hold the lengths of grass in vertical positionand yield sutliciently sidewise to permit the grass to be forcedtherebctween in charging the holder.

A thread or cord wrapping mechanism 25 positioned immediately beneaththe grass holder and feeder is adapted to receive the lengths of grassdischarged from the holder in a continuous stream and wrap a thread orcord therearound to form a continuous length of twine of the grass orother material fed thereto. This thread wrapping mechanism consists of atubular thread shaft 26 journaled on the frame 12 and positionedvertically, immediately beneath the aperture 23 of the grass holder andin axial vertical alinement therewith. The shaft is provided with aspool collar 27 rigidly connected thereto and a collar 28 threaded onthe shaft and these collars are adapted to removably hold a spool ofwrapping thread 29 between said collars and in position on the shaft. Atension collar 30 loosely surrounds a reduced portion of the tubularshaft above the threaded collar and is provided with a spring tensionarm 31 having an eye 32 formed in its free end. The thread from thespool passes through the eye of the spring tension arm and thence to andaround the lengths of grass discharging from the feeder and enteringinto the upper end of the tubular shaft. This tension device is adaptedto regulate the tightness of the winding on the grass and to compensatefor the variations in diameter of the spool of thread due to theunwinding of the thread therefrom and thus provide an even tension inthe winding. The portion of the upper end of the tubular shaftsurrounding the opening is beveled to prevent wear on the thread. Avertically extending countershaft 33 journaled on the upright member 11and having a bevel gear connection 34 with the drive shaft 14. isprovided with a belt wheel 35 which is adapted to rotate the tubularshaft by means of a belted connection 36 between the wheel 35 and apulley 37 carried by the side tubular shaft. A draw roll 38 mounted onthe drive shaftand positioned immediately below the lower end of thetubular shaft is adapted to'hold the partly wound lengths of grass in ataut position during the operation of wrapping'the twine around thegrass and to draw the finished product through the tubular shaft. Anidle roll 39 carried on the short end of a bell crank lever 4E0pivotally connected to the base 10 is adapted to bear and hold the grasstwine in close frictional engagement with the draw roll and preventslipping thereon. The long arm of the bell crank lever carries a weight41 longitudinally adjustably connected thereto to increase or diminishthe frictional engagement of the twine on the draw roller.

The grass twine passes around the draw roll 38 and up over a groovedidler pulley 42 and thence through the guide tube 43 of the traveler nut44 and is wound on the reel. L5. When the reel is filled the bolt 46which holds the disk top 4-.6 of the reel in position is removed and theroll of twine is removed from the reel. The reel is carried on a reelshaft 47 journaled in a bracket bearing &8 connected to and upstandingfrom the base frame 10. A belt wheel 49 connected to the reel shaft isprovided with yielding friction blocks 50 projecting upwardly therefromand upon which the lower 'end of the reel rests to provide a frictionalengagement between the reel and the belt wheel and permit the reel toslip on the friction blocks as the diameter of the twine wound on thereel increases in size. A belt 51 extending around the belt wheel 49 anda pulley 52 on the countershaft 33 serves to transmit rotation from saidcountershaft to "the spindle shaft 47.

The traveler nut 4A is threaded to a vertical reversely threaded shaft53 journaled in a bracket 54 connected to and upstanding from the baseframe. The traveler shaft has a belted connection 55 with the reel shaftand is rotated thereby. A stop 56 is provided on the upright 12 to holdthe vibrating frame in raised position when it is desired to place aspool of thread on the tubular shaft.

In the modified form of grass holder the bottom portion of the holder isformed with a series of stepped portions 57 provided with apertures 58reduced in diameter in successive order toward the lower stepped portionto permit the grass to gradually work down and out through the bottomaperture.

In the operation of the machine marsh or other grass is placed in theholder with the butt ends resting on the conical bottom portion of theholder, and a spool of wrapping thread having been placed in position onthe tubular shaft and the end of the thread threaded through the eye ofthe spring arm and tied around some of the lengths of grass extendingthrough the apertures of the holder, the machine is started. Therotation of the vibrating wheel causes the rapid vibration of the grassholder and the grass contained therein to work down the incline of theconical bottom portion and pass out through the aperture in a continuousstream of overlapping lengths of grass and into the conical opening ofthe tubular shaft. In passing through the space between the holder andthe tubular shaft the rotation of the tubular shaft and'the spool ofthread will tightly wrap the thread around the several overlappinglengths and form a con tinuous twine of grass or other material used.The draw roll will exert a pull on the wrapped and unwrapped lengths ofgrass and hold it taut so it will be tightly wound with the thread. Thefinished twine will then pass up over the idle pulley and various sizes.

'move the material to the aperture thereof.

through the guide tube of the traveler nut which will cause it to bewound up evenly on the reel spindle for further disposition. The size ofthe aperture in the conical bottom portion of the holder determines thediameter of the grass twine and forms an even unvarying thickness oftwine regardless of the length or thickness of the lengths of grass fedto the machine. As the aperture is of sufficient size to permit thepassage therethrough of several lengths of grass at the same time and asthe lengths of grass taper to a less diameter toward their tops thelengths of grass will be discharged in successive order and overlap eachother and break joints. The butt ends of the grass cannot pass throughthe aperture except in successive order due to the gradual taper of eachlength thus providing a regular even feed of material to the twinewrapping mechanism.

While the machine shown and described is adapted to form a twine of agiven size it is obvious that holders with different sized apertures maybe provided to form twine of thread wrapping mechanism constructed toreceive and wrap lengths of material with a binding thread, a materialholder positioned above the wrapping mechanism and provided with anaperture through which the material is fed to the said wrappingmechanism, said holder having its bottom portion shaped to direct thematerial toward the aperture when the holder is vibrated, and means forvibrating the material holder to 2. A grass twine machine, comprising athread wrappmg mechanism constructed to receive and Wrap lengths ofmaterial with a binding thread, a material holder having a conicalbottom portion provided with a CllS- charge aperture at its vertexthrough which the material 1s fed to the said wrapping mechanism, andmeans for vibrating the material holder to move the material carried bythe holder to the aperture thereof.

3. A grass twine machine, comprising a thread wrapping mechanismconstructed to receive and wrap lengths of material with a bindingthread, a material holder positioned above the wrapping mechanism andhaving a conical bottom portion provided with a discharge aperture atits vertex through which the material is fed to the said wrappingmechanism, and means for vibrating the material holder to move thematerial carried by the holder to the aperture thereof.

at. A grass twine machine, comprising a thread wrapping mechanism havinga ver tically positioned tubular shaft, and a material holder positioneddirectly above the shaft and having an inclined bottom portion providedwith a discharge aperture through its lower portion immediately abovethe opening of through which the material is fed to the shaft, saidholder constructed to hold the material extending in a verticaldirection and in a line parallel to the axis of the tubular shaft.

5. A grass twine machine, comprising a thread wrapping mechanism havinga vertically positioned tubular shaft, a material holder positionedabove the shaft and having an inclined bottom portion provided with adischarge aperture through its lower portion immediately above theopening of the tubular shaft and through which the material is fed tothe shaft, said inclined bottom portion being shaped to direct thematerial toward the aperture when the holder is vibrated, and means forvibrating the material holder to move the material carried by the holderto the aperture thereof.

6. A grass twine machine, comprising a thread wrapping mechanism havinga tubular shaft extending longitudinally in a direction at an angle to ahorizontal line, and a material holder positioned directly above one endof the shaft and adapted and constructed to hold lengths of materialsubstantially in axial alinement with the shaft and having a conicalbottom portion provided with a discharge aperture at its lowest pointthrough which the material is fed to the said tubular shaft.

7. A grass twine machine, comprising a thread wrapping mechanism havinga tubular shaft extending longitudinally in a direction at an angle to ahorizontal line, a material holder adapted and constructed to hold.lengths of material substantially in axial alinement with the shaft andhaving a bot-tom portion provided with a discharge aperture throughwhich the material is fed to the said tubular shaft, said bottom portionbeing inclined to direct the material toward the opening when the holderis vibrated, and means for vibrating the material holder to move thematerial carried by the holder to the aperture thereof.

the tubular shaft and 8. A grass twine machine, comprising a threadwrapping machine constructed to receive and wrap lengths of materialwith a binding thread, a support, a material holder lever framepivotally connected to the support, a material holder carried by thelever frame and having an angular bottom portion provided with an ;.thewrapping mechanism, a vibrator aperture through its lower portionthrough which the material is fed to the wrapping mechanism, and amember carried by the support for vibrating the lever frame to move thematerial in the holder to the I aperture thereof.

9. A grass twine machine, comprising a frame, a thread wrappingmechanism mounted on the frame and having a tubular shaft extendinglongitudinally in a direction at an angle to a horizontal line, amaterial holder lever frame pivotally connected to the frame, a materialholder car ried by the lever frame and having an an- ;gular bottomportion provided with an aperture through its lower portion throughwhich the material is fed to the wrapping mechanism, a shaft carried bythe frame and provided with a cam for vibrating the ma- ':terial holderframe and the holder carried thereby, and a means for drawing the grasstwine through the tubular shaft.

10. A grass twine machine, comprising a frame, a thread wrappingmechanism =-mounted on the frame having a tubular shaft extendinglongitudinally in a direction at an angle to a horizontal line, amaterial holder lever frame pivotally connected to the frame, a materialholder carried ;by the lever frame and having an angular bottom portionprovided with an aperture through its lower portion through which thematerial is fed to the wrapping mechanism, a shaft carried by the frameand provided with a cam for vibrating the ma- ;rection at an angle to ahorizontal line, a

material holder lever frame pivotally connected at one end to the frameand provided with a wearing block at its other end, a material holdercarried by the lever frame .and having a conical bottom portion providedwith an aperture at its vertex through which the material is fed to thewrapping mechanism, a drive shaft journaled on the frame and having adriving connection with shaft journaled on the frame and having a motiontransmission connection with the drive shaft, a cam member mounted onthe vibrator shaft for vibrating the material :holder frame and theholder carried thereby, a draw roll. for pulling the grass twine throughthe tubular shaft, and a yielding means for holding the grass twine infrictional engagement with the draw roll,

12. A- grass twine machine, comprising a frame, a thread wrappingmechanism mounted on the frame and having a tubular shaft extendinglongitudinally in a direction at an angle to a horizontal line, amaterial holder lever frame pivotally connected at one end to the frameand provided with a wearing block at its other end, ';a material holdercarried by the lever frame and having a conical bottom portion proyidedwith an aperture at its vertex through which the material is fed to thewrapping mechanism, a drive shaft journaled on the frame and having adriving connection with the wrapping mechanism, a vibrator shaftjournaled on the frame and having a motion transmission connection withthe drive shaft, a cam member mounted on the vibrator shaft forvibrating the material holder frame and the holder carried thereby, adraw roll for pulling the grass twine through the tubular shaft, ayielding means for holding the grass twine in frictional engagement withthedraw roll, a guide pulley over which the grass twine extends, a reeliipon which the grass twine is wound, a driving connection between thedrive shaft and the reel, and a traveler nut mounted on a reverselythreaded shaft for guiding the grass twine on the reel. j 13. A grasstwine machine, comprising a. frame, a thread wrapping mechanism mountedon the frame and having a tubular shaft extending longitudinally in adirection at an angle to a horizontal line, a material holder leverpivotally connected at one end to the, frame and provided with a wearingblock at its other end, a material holder carried by the lever frame andhaving a conical bottom portion provided with an aperture at its vertexthrough which the material is fed to the wrapping mechanism, yieldingarms ex tending upwardly from the material holder to hold the materialin upright position, a drive shaft ournaled on the frame and having adriving connection with the wrapping mechanism, a vibrator shaftjournaled on the frame and having a motion transmission connection withthe drive shaft, a cam member mounted on the vibrator shaft forvibrating the material holder frame and the holder carried thereby, adraw roll for pulling the grass twine through the tubular shaft, and ayieldingmeans for holding the grass twine in frictional engagement withthe draw roll. 1 14. Agrass twine machine, comprising a base portionprovided with uprights, a drive shaft journaled on the frame andprovided with a bevel gear and a pulley, a countershaft journaled on oneof the uprights and provided with a bevel gear in mesh with the bevelgear of the drive shaft, said countershaft also provided with a pulleyand with a wheel, a thread wrapping mechanism j ournaled on one of theuprights and having a tubular shaft extending vertically longitudinally,a material holder lever frame pivotally connected at one end of theuprights and provided with an adjustable wearing block at its other end,a material holder carried by the lever frame and having a conical bottomportion provided with an aperture at itsverteX through which thematerial is fed to the wrapping mechanism, yielding arms extendingupwardly from the material holder to hold the material in uprightposition, a vibrator shaft journaled on the two uprights and providedwith a cam wheel positioned to engage and vibrate the wearing block andparts connected thereto, an adjustable means for supporting the free endof the material holder lever frame, a belt connection between the pulleyof the drive shaft and a pulley on the vibrator shaft, a belt connectionbetween the wheel of the countershaft and the wrapping mechanism, a drawroll mounted on the drive shaft positioned to engage and draw the grasstwine through the tubular shaft, a reel shaft mounted on the frame andprovided with a belt wheel having a belt connection with the pulley ofthe countershaft, a reel journaled on the reel shaft and having africtional engagement with the belt wheel, a reversely threaded shaftmounted on the frame, a traveler nut threaded to the reversely threadedshaft and provided with a grass twine guide, and a motion transmissionconnection between the reel shaft and the reversely threaded shaft.

15. A feeding device for grass twine machines, comprising a materialholder consisting of a receptacle having an inclined bottom portionprovided with an aperture at its lower portion through which thematerial is discharged, said inclined bottom portion being shaped todirect the material toward the aperture when the holder is vibrated, andmeans for vibrating the receptacle to move the material through theaperture.

16. A feeding device for grass twine machines, comprising a materialholder consisting of a receptacle having an inclined bottom portionprovided with an aperture at its lower portion through which thematerial is dischargecl, said inclined bottom por-' tion being shaped todirect the material toward the aperture when the holder is vibrated,means for drawing material through the aperture, and means for vibratingthe receptacle to move the material through the aperture.

17. A feeding device for grass twine machines, comprising a materialholder consisting of a receptacle having a conical bottom portionprovided with an aperture at its vertex through which the material isdischarged, draw rollers positioned beneath the conical bottom portion,and means for vibrating the receptacle.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature, in presence of twowitnesses.

EDWVARD W. GOODRICK.

Witnesses:

Gno. O. SANDERS, J ULIUs H. KIEL.

fiopies 01 this patent may be obtained for five cents each, byaddressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. O.

